Bank robber wanted back in jail: court

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The Crown’s bid to get a longer sentence for a man who robbed a bank — because he wanted to go back to jail — has been rejected by the B.C. Court of Appeal.

According to the court decision published Monday, Douglas McPherson has been in jail for the 22 of the past 25 years. He was only released from custody a little more than a month when he robbed the same Bank of Montreal branch that previously put him into prison.

“It was accepted by the sentencing judge that his reason for committing this robbery was so he could return to prison,” Justice Elizabeth Bennett wrote in her decision.

“He had been released on his warrant expiry date, had no money, no home, and could not cope in the community.”

While in prison, however, he was described as an obedient painter and stainer, a “team player” that got along with corrections staff.

The 57-year-old was sentenced to two years jail for reoffending. However, the Crown had wanted an extension to five years.

The court pointed out police had him under surveillance “at all times” when the most recent robbery — where he made away with $1,745 — happened in Dec. 2011.